The motor inside of the compressor is mounted on springs, if they get weak or break, the motor will lean and hit the side of the compressor case and make a knocking sound when the compressor shuts off. Only option is to replace the compressor, use it like it is, may last for months or years, or replace the frig.

I have a 10 year Whirlpool frig with a Matsushia compressor that the also "clunks" when it goes off. If I rock the compressor back and forth on its mounts, something inside hits the side of the compressor shell. Is it a sign that the unit is on its death bed? I don't mind the "clunk" as long as I know the unit won't self distruct or die soon. thanks

Thanks for info about the 'clunk'. Any thoughts or experience on how the problem might shorten the life of the compressor? I've had refrigerators that lasted twice as long as this one, but without the 'clunk. The insides would fall apart before the compressor died.

I have the same clang noise problem when it shuts off...I have inglis fridge. Unfortunately, if I want to buy a new one I have to pay double - first half for fridge and second half to move it to 4th floor apartment (no elevator) through stairs. and move the old one down. So i guess I am better off to fix the old one.

Adam, Whoever replaces the compressor has to carry all the equipment to the 4th floor. This includes a reclaiming pump and tank, vacuum pump, new 134a tank, charging scale, torch set, and more. You have to figure all this into the labor charge.The nice thing about Windows is - It does not just crash, it displays a dialog box and lets you press 'OK' first.

Browsing the web there seem to be two types of refrig motor mounts - internal and external. This thread talks about internal (= replace the compressor). The following link: http://http://www.acmehowto.com/howto/appliance/refrigerator/check/compmounts.phpseems to deal with external (= easy). Does anyone know which type Sears Kenmore top freezer (ca 1996-1998) uses? are there differences in symptoms - e.g. continuous vibration vs clunking "shudder" on end of cycle?

Sears Kemore could be any brand since they buy their products from others and put the Kemore badge on the front...but no matter, going to have the motor inside the compressor case mounted on springs etc, and the compressor case itself mounted on rubber mounts most likely onto the frame of the refrigerator some way... still have either the external vibrations (normal) or the internal thud/bonk/shudder/clunk noise if the internal mounts have been compromised.Moderator & Assistant Admin. for Servicetechhelp Association.Inc. _______________________________________ Upload Manuals thru Helpdesk..>>> HELPDESK

Nope,that will just stop the doors from swinging shut on their own, this could still operate for years making that broken spring in the compressor noise or it can fail on the next cycle.my dogs friendly he just needs to sniff you!

Yes and no, I have seen very old units,( 35 yrs + ) do it and very young, it does not see to be some new phenomena but possibly a manufacturing glitch of some sort. As I have stated I have had customers tell me theirs has made the noise for ten years b-4. There are definitely durability issues with very new production models that seem to be directly related to meeting energy star requirements but this is a whole nother subject of which I do not have enough time to get into ;)my dogs friendly he just needs to sniff you!

Hi can anyone tell me what is the best idea. Buy a new refer and what type or have a repair man come out and fix my GE Profile that has just started to make a constant noise. Sounds like it may be a compressor. It is only 4-5 years ols. Jack ***-***-****

My refrigerator is a year and a half old Whirlpool side-by-side. It makes a "clunking" sound for 10-30 seconds. The problem seems intermittent and I can tie it to a specific event. I pulled out the refrigerator and noticed that happens when the compressor is working. I have been the compressor wobbling back and forth when it makes this noise. It starts wiggling back and forth and then it "clunk...clunk...clunks" about 4 times per second. I was able to capture it on video here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5FtMVt-ICA), but you can't really see the compressor. By the video you can tell the noise starts loudly and slowly gets quieter. Even more strangely, when I pull the fridge out, it doesn't seem to make the noise anymore. Is this a compressor spring problem or something else? Please help me! Thanks!

Yuck Matt.....that would drive me bonkers, I would call Whirlpool and have them check it out as the compressor itself should be under warranty....if it has done this since new tell them this also....you sure gotta hope it makes that noise when the tech is there tho...be sure to have that video handy so they can hear it just in case. Might first want to be sure the rubber mountings are not missing but sure sounds like it is internal, I have never heard one make a noise like that before.....let us know what you find out please. Other members in here might have run across that before and can post their thoughts also....Moderator & Assistant Admin. for Servicetechhelp Association.Inc. _______________________________________ Upload Manuals thru Helpdesk..>>> HELPDESK

Pegi - Thanks for the quick response. I have checked the rubber mounting rings and they are each there and secure. This didn't do it when it was new. I first heard it after maybe a year, but only once a month, then twice. Now it is about once every other hour. Very strange. I believe that I only have a one year warranty on the refrigerator. Model Whirlpool ED5LTAXVL00

Your warranty will be found in your users manual, probably in the back pages, will be most likely a 1 year warranty on labor but more on the sealed system parts, like 2-5 years perhaps.......Moderator & Assistant Admin. for Servicetechhelp Association.Inc. _______________________________________ Upload Manuals thru Helpdesk..>>> HELPDESK

Damn....what a bummer, did not realize the warranty had changed so much. Well, if it is the compressor making the noise believe it will not be worth having the compressor replaced. ""when I pull the fridge out, it doesn't seem to make the noise anymore.""'

Might wanna make sure there is not something making it make the noise when you push it back in, like the compressor or a freon line hitting something when the compressor starts up. I would be trying different things to see if I could make the noise go away without breaking any freon lines, that would also make it too expensive to repair this unit. Looks kike we cannot be of more help here unless other members have better suggestions for Matt.Moderator & Assistant Admin. for Servicetechhelp Association.Inc. _______________________________________ Upload Manuals thru Helpdesk..>>> HELPDESK

Thank you for the recording the knocking noise! I just recieved a new capacitor / relay-overload replacement kit and as I was in the process of changing it, power cord disconnected and the old one on the kitchen floor and the new one in hand, the "darn" compressor starting making the same knocking sound with the compressor visibly shaking the same frequency as the knocking sound. I have spent some time behind the refrigerator and the knocking for our unit is some random time between cycles and this one time, the power cord was disconneted and no relay/overload installed. Would this indicate expansion noise? The unit is over 4 years old and has just started making this noise the past month or two. Kenmore model 106.57022600.